New Delhi, March 28 The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) on Saturday expressed "grave concern" over the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2026, claiming that the proposed legislation could "threaten the operational survival" of minority and civil society organizations.
Its Deputy Secretary General, Father Mathew Koyickal, while objecting to key provisions of the Bill, noted that it "empowers the central government to deny license renewals and subsequently assume control over the institutions, funds, properties, and assets of minority organizations and NGOs".
Allowing the Union Government to take over foreign funds and assets of NGOs or their institutions upon cancellation, surrender, and the mere expiry or delay in the renewal of an FCRA registration is "undemocratic, unconstitutional, and contrary to the principles of natural justice," he said.
"The proposed legislation threatens the operational survival of minorities and civil society organizations that depend on foreign contributions for essential social, educational, and charitable work," Koyickal said.
The CBCI also flagged concerns over what it described as sweeping powers being granted to authorities.
"These excessive regulatory measures grant wide discretionary powers to authorities, risking arbitrary decisions, misuse, and executive overreach into constitutionally guaranteed freedoms," Koyickal said, adding that "such control severely undermines democratic principles and weakens public accountability."
Urging a review of the Bill, he said, "The CBCI urgently calls upon the Government of India to reconsider these provisions in the proposed FCRA amendment Bill."
"We urge the government to include the establishment of an appellate authority in the Bill, and the immediate removal of all contentious provisions leading to the takeover of assets, ensuring that the fundamental rights of all citizens and minorities are protected," he added.
On reports about the CBCI's stand on the Waqf Bill, Koyickal clarified that "you are misinterpreting our stand; We never supported that Bill as such."
"We said that the Bill should be within the parameters of the Constitution. It should not go beyond the Constitution," he said.
He emphasised, "Whatever law the central government makes, it should not be violating the fundamental rights of any human being and also it should not violate any minority rights."
The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday significantly tightens oversight of foreign-funded organizations, proposing the creation of a powerful new authority to seize and manage the assets of non-profits that lose their license.
It entails a comprehensive statutory framework for vesting, supervision, management, and disposal of foreign contributions and assets through a 'designated authority', including provisional and permanent vesting.
